Method and apparatus for processing glass

Abstract

This invention embraces a method of and apparatus for processing heat-softenable fiber-forming material, such as glass, involving treatment of a surface of a feeder from which flow streams of the heat-softened glass through the establishment of an environment at the surface in which a heat-decomposable gas is heat decomposed providing a gas resulting from the decomposition of a character promoting separation of the glass from the surface thereby minimizing or eliminating the tendency for the material to flood at the feeder surface, effecting pressure through the heat-softened glass in a supply chamber, transferring glass from the chamber to the stream feeder, and effecting pressure through the heat-softened glass in the feeder to prevent or eliminate permeation or filtering of the gas formed by heat decomposition through the material of the feeder into the softened glass thereby enhancing the uniformity of glass streams flowing from the feeder.

We claim: 
     
       1. The method of processing glass comprising establishing a supply of molten glass in a chamber, transferring molten glass from the supply into a stream feeder, establishing gas pressure on the molten glass in the stream feeder, flowing streams of glass from the feeder under the influence of the pressure on the molten glass in the feeder, attenuating the streams of glass to fibers, and establishing gas pressure on the molten glass in the chamber to effect transfer of molten glass from the chamber into the stream feeder. 
     
     
       2. The method according to claim 1 including interrupting transfer of glass from the chamber into the feeder when the glass in the feeder reaches a predetermined level, and initiating transfer of glass from the chamber into the feeder when the glass in the feeder falls below the predetermined level. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus for processing heat-softened glass including, in combination, a glass melting chamber, a stream feeder having a floor section provided with a plurality of orifices through which flow streams of heat-softened glass, means connecting the melting chamber with the stream feeder for flowing glass from the chamber into the stream feeder, means for establishing gas pressure on the heat-softened glass in the stream feeder, means for establishing gas pressure on the heat-softened glass in the melting chamber, feeding means for feeding glass into the melting chamber, valve means for controlling flow of glass from the melting chamber into the stream feeder, sensing means for sensing the level of molten glass in the stream feeder, means activated by the sensing means for actuating said valve means, distributor means disposed adjacent the stream flow section, said distributor means adapted to deliver an inert gas and a heat-decomposable hydrogen-bearing material at the stream flow section, the hydrogen-bearing material being decomposed by the heat of the glass providing hydrogen at the surface of the stream flow section to promote separation of the glass from the surface of the stream flow region, and means for attenuating the glass streams to fibers. 
     
     
       4. The method of processing glass including introducing glass into a chamber, heating the glass in the chamber to maintain the glass in a flowable condition, establishing pressure on the molten glass in the chamber, flowing molten glass from the chamber into a feeder, establishing pressure on the molten glass in the feeder, flowing streams of glass from the feeder under the influence of pressure on the molten glass in the feeder, the pressure on the molten glass in the chamber being sufficient to effect flow of glass from the chamber into the pressurized feeder, and attenuating the streams of glass to fibers. 
     
     
       5. The combination according to claim 3 including second sensing means for sensing the level of the glass in the chamber, means activated by the second sensing means for controlling the feeding means for feeding the glass into the chamber, and means rendered effective when the glass feeding means is feeding glass into the chamber for closing the valve means to interrupt flow of glass from the chamber into the stream feeder. 
     
     
       6. The method of processing glass including introducing glass into a chamber, heating the glass in the chamber to maintain the glass in a molten condition, establishing pressure on the molten glass in the chamber, flowing molten glass from the chamber into a feeder, establishing an isolating environment at a surface of the feeder containing the molten glass and having orifices from which flow streams of the glass, attenuating the streams of glass to fibers, providing a hydrogen-bearing material in the isolating environment which at the temperature of the molten glass is decomposed to provide hydrogen in an amount effective at the interfacial region of the glass with the feeder to reduce the wetting effect of the glass and promote separation of the glass from the orificed surface of the feeder, and effecting pressure through the glass in the feeder to resist permeation of the hydrogen through the stream feeder surface at the stream flow region. 
     
     
       7. The combination according to claim 3 including second valve means rendered effective during the feeding of glass into the chamber for reducing the pressure on the glass in the chamber. 
     
     
       8. The method of processing heat-softened glass comprising molten glass in a chamber, flowing the molten glass from the chamber into a stream feeder having an orificed stream flow section, establishing an isolating environment at the stream flow section of the feeder in which a hydrogen-bearing material is heat-decomposed providing hydrogen in the environment for promoting separation of the heat-softened glass from the feeder surface at the stream flow region, establishing pressure on the heat-softened glass in the stream feeder to flow streams of glass from the flow section and to resist permeation of the hydrogen through the stream flow section of the feeder, attenuating the streams of glass to fibers, establishing pressure on the glass in the melting chamber sufficient to effect transfer of molten glass from the chamber into the stream feeder, applying heat to the stream feeder to maintain the molten glass therein at a substantially constant velocity, and feeding glass into the melting chamber to maintain a substantially constant level of glass in the melting chamber. 
     
     
       9. The method according to claim 8 including the step of reducing the pressure on the glass in the melting chamber during the feeding of glass into the chamber without affecting the pressure on the molten glass in the stream feeder. 
     
     
       10. The method according to claim 8 wherein the isolating environment includes an inert gas selected from the group comprising carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium, argon, neon and xenon. 
     
     
       11. The method according to claim 8 wherein the hydrogen-bearing material is a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
       12. The method according to claim 8 wherein the hydrogen-bearing material is a heat-decomposable gas selected from the group comprising methane, ethane, propane, butane, isobutane, ethylene, propylene, acetylene, cyclopropane, naphthene, ammonia and dichlorodifluoromethane. 
     
     
       13. The method of processing glass comprising providing a supply of molten glass in a chamber, flowing molten glass from the chamber into a stream feeder having an orificed section from which flow means streams of the glass, attenuating the streams of glass to fibers, establishing an isolating environment at the stream flow section of the feeder, delivering a hydrogen-bearing material to the isolating environment, decomposing the hydrogen-bearing material by the heat of the glass in the isolating environment providing hydrogen for promoting separation of the heat-softened glass from the feeder surface at the stream flow region, establishing pressure on the heat-softened glass in the stream feeder effective to flow streams of glass from the feeder and to resist permeation of the hydrogen through the stream flow section of the feeder, establishing sufficient pressure on the molten glass in the chamber to effect flow of molten glass from the chamber into the stream feeder, feeding glass into the chamber to maintain a substantially constant level of glass in the chamber, and controlling flow of glass from the chamber into the stream feeder for maintaining a substantially constant level of glass in the stream feeder. 
     
     
       14. The method of processing heat-softened glass comprising providing molten glass in a chamber, flowing molten glass from the chamber into a stream feeder having an orificed stream flow section from which flow streams of the glass, attenuating the streams of glass to fibers, establishing a gaseous environment at the stream flow section of the feeder including a material which is decomposed by the heat of the glass providing hydrogen for promoting separation of the glass from the surface of the stream flow section, establishing pressure on the molten glass in the stream feeder to flow streams of glass from the feeder and to resist permeation of the hydrogen through the stream flow section of the feeder, and establishing pressure on the glass in the chamber effective to transfer molten glass from the chamber into the feeder. 
     
     
       15. The method of processing glass including feeding glass into a chamber, heating the glass in the chamber to render the glass in a molten condition, establishing pressure on the molten glass in the chamber, flowing molten glass from the chamber into a stream feeder, establishing pressure on the molten glass in the feeder, flowing streams of glass from the feeder under the influence of pressure on the molten glass in the feeder, attenuating the streams of glass to fibers, the pressure on the molten glass in the chamber being sufficient to effect flow of glass from the chamber into the pressurized feeder, establishing an inert gaseous environment at the stream flow region of the feeder, decomposing a hydrogen-bearing material in the environment providing hydrogen at the stream flow region of the feeder for promoting separation of the heat-softened glass from the feeder surface at the stream flow region, the pressure on the molten glass in the feeder substantially preventing permeation of the hydrogen through the material of the feeder at the stream flow region. 
     
     
       16. Apparatus for processing glass comprising means for feeding glass into a melting chamber, means for heating the chamber to render the glass in a flowable condition, means for establishing pressure on the glass in the melting chamber, a feeder having stream flow orifices therein, means for establishing pressure on the molten glass in the feeder to discharge streams of the glass through the orifices, means for attenuatinng the streams of glass to fibers, passage means connecting the melting chamber with the feeder, the pressure on the molten glass in the chamber being sufficient to effect flow of glass from the pressurized chamber through the passage means into the pressurized feeder. 
     
     
       17. The combination according to claim 16 wherein the means for establishing pressure on the glass in the chamber is compressed gas. 
     
     
       18. The combination according to claim 16 wherein the means for establishing pressure on the glass in the feeder is compressed gas. 
     
     
       19. Apparatus for processing glass including, in combination, a chamber adapted to contain molten glass, a stream feeder having a floor section provided with orifices through which flow streams of the molten glass, passage means for transferring molten glass from the chamber into the stream feeder, means for establishing pressure on the glass in the chamber to effect transfer of molten glass from the chamber into the stream feeder, means for establishing pressure on the glass in the stream feeder to flow streams of glass from the feeder, means for attenuating the glass streams to fibers, valve means for controlling flow of molten glass from the chamber into the stream feeder, means for sensing the level of molten glass in the stream feeder, and means activated by the sensing means for actuating said glass flow controlling valve means. 
     
     
       20. The combination according to claim 19 including second means for sensing the level of the glass in the chamber, feeding means for feeding glass into the chamber, and means activated by said second sensing means for controlling the means feeding glass into the chamber. 
     
     
       21. Apparatus for processing glass comprising means for feeding glass into a chamber, means for heating the chamber to render the glass in a flowable condition, a stream feeder, means for establishing pressure on the glass in the chamber to effect flow of glass from the pressurized chamber into the stream feeder, said feeder having a section provided with orifices from which flow streams of the glass, means for delivering an inert gas containing a hydrogen-bearing material at the stream flow region of the feeder, said hydrogen-bearing material being decomposed by heat from the feeder providing hydrogen at the stream flow section of the feeder for promoting separation of the glass from the feeder surface at the stream flow section, means for establishing sufficient pressure on the glass in the feeder to flow streams of glass from the feeder and to prevent permeation of the hydrogen through the material of the feeder at the stream flow region, and means for attenuating the glass streams to fibers. 
     
     
       22. The combination according to claim 21 wherein the means establishing pressure on the heat-softened glass in the feeder is a compressed gas. 
     
     
       23. Apparatus for processing heat-softened glass comprising a chamber adapted to contain a supply of heat-softened glass, a stream feeder connected with the chamber and having a section provided with orifices from which flow streams of the glass, means for establishing pressure on the glass in the chamber to effect transfer of glass into the feeder, means for delivering an inert gas containing a hydrogen-bearing material at the stream flow region of the feeder, said hydrogen-bearing material being decomposed by heat from the feeder providing hydrogen at the stream flow section of the feeder for promoting separation of the heat-softened glass from the feeder surface at the stream flow section, means for establishing sufficient pressure on the heat-softened glass in the feeder to flow streams of glass from the feeder and to prevent permeation of the hydrogen through the material of the feeder at the stream flow region, and means for attenuating the glass streams to fibers. 
     
     
       24. The method of processing heat-softenable fiber-forming mineral material comprising introducing mineral material into a chamber, heating the material in the chamber to maintain the material in a molten condition, establishing pressure on the molten material in the chamber, flowing molten material from the chamber into a feeder, establishing an isolating environment at a surface of the feeder having orifices from which flow streams of the mineral material, attenuating the streams of mineral material to fibers, providing a gas in the isolating environment which at the temperature of the molten material is decomposed to provide a gas resulting from the decomposition capable of permeating through the feeder surface and provided in an amount at the interfacial region of the molten material with the feeder effective to reduce the wetting effect of the material and promote separation of the material from the orificed surface of the feeder, and effecting pressure through the molten material in the feeder in an amount sufficient to resist permeation of the gas resulting from decomposition through the stream feeder surface at the stream flow region. 
     
     
       25. The method of processing glass comprising introducing glass into a chamber, heating the glass in the chamber to maintain the glass in a molten condition, establishing pressure on the molten glass in the chamber, flowing glass from the chamber into a feeder, establishing an isolating environment at a surface of the feeder having orifices from which flow streams of the glass, attenuating the glass streams to fibers, providing a gas in the isolating environment which at the temperature of the glass is decomposed to provide a gas resulting from the decomposition capable of permeating through the feeder surface in an amount effective at the interfacial region of the glass with the feeder to reduce the wetting effect of the glass and promote separation of the glass from the orificed surface of the feeder, and effecting pressure through the glass in the feeder in an amount sufficient to resist permeation of the gas of decomposition through the stream feeder surface at the stream flow region.